knee replacement allergy

you had a zirconium implant put in your leg but it had bone cement? Are you pain free and less swelling?
I have not had my allergy test yet but I highly suspect I am allergic to the bone cement and nickel as well so when I get my results back I will go from there. Thank you very much.

Dan

Daniel
I did the metal testing with the company in Chicago which is part of Rush Hospital. They are the only one stateside that I understand do the metal testing. I tested positive for nickel allergy and my second TKN on my right knee has it.
The company name is Orthopedic Analysis phone 312 733 7121
address 2201 W. Campbell Park Drive Suite 215 Chicago IL 60612. Insurance does not cover it. So I had to pay around $500-600 I apologize I can not find my receipt. I called and they mailed the kit to me after I paid. I took it to a local lab to have my labs drawn and in the kit was a pre paid address label to mail back overnight Fed ex the blood draw. It took about 3 weeks to get my results but I am so glad I did. I am trying to find a Dr who understand allergies to implants and it is very challenging. Good Luck! its money well spent.

I had a TKR done in Jan 2021 and had unbelievable pain from the get go. I told my Dr it felt like my implant was coming out my right side of knee. Dr said all well give it time. April I went for 4 more opinions. All Drs said my implant was loose glue did not bond to the one side. July 2021 I had it revised with new bottom portion of implant replaced the top knee cap same. This time knee it feels secure but constant pain in knee, calf ankle and foot pain like needles coming up bottom of my foot. I have seen multiple Dr's 2 suggested I do metal testing. I did the metal testing and I tested positive for nickel and potassium dichromate allergy and my implant has it.
I am trying to get into Mayo for someone who understands allergy on implants. Where did you get the info on the company to make an implant and hear that it takes 10 months to make ? Did you find a Dr who will do it? Thanks for any advice. I am 55 and was very active its been 2 years of 24/7 pain and I am not able to even ride a bike. Trying to find someone who can help me

Hello! Can you please share your Dr information with me? I live near Chicago and would go anywhere I could find a Dr who understands.

Thanks!

I used the same lab, but I didn't have to order it myself, yet the bill for the testing went to me instead of the ortho's office. The orthopedist ordered the metal and bone cement kit for me which was sent to his office, and they did the blood draw and sent the blood off to the Chicago lab. As I mentioned the results showed I was allergic to 5 metals. You are right about the expense, it was approx $600. This test was not suggested by my orthopedist surgeon, but I demanded it before surgery based upon my allergic history. In fact, he discouraged it stating allergies were rare. He did seem surprised at the number of metals I was allergic to. I was warned Medicare would not cover it. Still hopeful I wrote up a lengthy petition to Medicare to cover this test, justifying my need. I sent them complete records of all my other allergy testing in the past. Previously they covered patch testing for me twice. Patch testing cost $1,500 per kit. I also had the orthopedist write up a justification for allergy testing for me. I went through the lengthy appeal process and in the end was denied.

Titanium contains traces of other metals.
I had the blood test before knee surgery which did not show an allergy to titanium, but it did to 5 other metals. I thought that would mean I could safely have a titanium implant. Wrong.
My surgeon told me there is no such thing as pure titanium, all titanium has traces of other metals in it. Also, if a ceramic coated implant is put in, the ceramic coating wears off over time exposing the metal underneath.

I have been going through these issues since 2019. I had a TKR 2019 I had pain in it for
2 years but it was tolerable just very uncomfortable I had pain in every step I made then in 2021 the joint got septic I had surgery to scrub implant and lengthy rounds of antibiotics. It healed to the point the it was before the infection. Then in august 2022 I got another sepsis joint was admitted to hospital with blood infection Doctors did not believe the joint was infected five days later my organs shut down went into emergency surgery to clean joint did not wake up on ventilator 2-3 days finally woke up was in ICU 2 weeks hospital 3weeks total.
I went to indianapolis to a new ortho surgeon and he took out my implant on october nineteenth and installed a metal rod and a cement spacer. my leg will not bend and non weight bearing I can barely get around on a walker. It keeps getting infected or so they think and swelling and it is very painful almost debilitating. I have sent for an allergy test kit for bone cement and metals. If I have allergies does anyone know of a surgeon that specializes in cementless and hypo allergenic implants I am at the point I will go anywhere in the U.S. to get this fixed I am only 54 years old and was very active. I am not giving up on my lifestyle ever. If anyone can steer me in the right direction it would be much appreciated.